Building a Basic Foundation for Search and Rescue Dog Training

Hundreds of tips are revealed to help handlers train the Search and Rescue dog. This instructional guide describes the skills needed to lay a solid foundation for successfully training the SAR dog. The reader will examine disciplines such as Wilderness Air Scent, Human Remains Detection (both land and water), First Responder Dogs, Disaster, and Trailing dogs. Learn the skills needed to prepare physically, mentally, and intellectually for SAR operations. Enjoy meeting REAL SAR dogs in over 50 photos. Discover the industry standard for documentation including training logs, evaluations, and certifications. Sample forms for each are included. Explore Sympathetic Alerts, Human Response Alerts and handler Cues to understand why dogs behave as they do. Gain a basic knowledge of Scent Theory and learn how it impacts dog performance. Ethics and professionalism are stressed as SAR dog handlers from across the nation reveal their wisdom through TIPS and BEST PRACTICES.

J. C. Judah is a search and rescue dog handler, a Search and Rescue Technician I, a member of the NC Search and Rescue Advisory Council, and a founding member of her team, Brunswick Search and Rescue team. She is a retired educator, mother and grandmother of two.